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Canon

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Canon RF Mount

Hybrid L-series 85mm with VCM autofocus, manual iris ring, and weather sealing.

$1,649

Launch price

Released Feb 2025

vs

Canon

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Canon RF Mount

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM — 10–18mm f/4.5-6.3 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.

$329

Launch price

Released Apr 2024

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is 10 months newer.

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Wins

2categories

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Portrait

Wins

6categories

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Landscape

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM wins 2 categories·RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM wins 3 categories
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has higher OIS effectiveness (4 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has lower Min focus distance (15 cm vs 75 cm)
  • ARF 85mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.4 vs f/6.3)
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has lower Weight (165 g vs 636 g)
  • ARF 85mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.4 vs f/4.5)

Key specs at a glance

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCMRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal Length85 mm10-18 mm
Max Aperturef/1.4f/4.5-6.3
MountCanon RFCanon RF
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
StabilizationNo4 stops
Weight636 g165 g
Min Focus75 cm15 cm
Filter Size67 mm58 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

77 × 99 mm

636 g (1.40 lb / 22.43 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

69 × 45 mm

165 g (0.36 lb / 5.82 oz)

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is 55mm longer and 7mm wider than RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is 471 g heavier than RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 85mm F1.4 L VCMRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Portrait
9.5Excellent
1.0Limited
Sports & Action
4.5Fair
4.0Fair
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
5.0Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
6.0Good
Travel
3.5Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
2.0Limited
2.5Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
4.0Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.4 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.4 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

  • Weather sealing

    Only RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

  • Control ring

    Only RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

  • Custom function button

    Only RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

Reasons to choose the RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

  • OIS effectiveness

    4 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    15 cm vs 75 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    165 g vs 636 g — lower is better

  • Length

    44.6 mm vs 99.3 mm — lower is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM supports it

  • Diameter

    69.2 mm vs 76.5 mm — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.17 × vs 0.12 × — higher is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Pros

  • Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • Built-in optical image stabilization
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM and RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM at major authorized retailers.

Canon RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal length (Min)
85 mm
10 mm
Focal length (Max)
85 mm
18 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.4+3.4 stops wider
f/4.5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.4+4.3 stops wider
f/6.3
Elements
14
12
Groups
10
9
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
1 Aspherical, 1 UD
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Min focus distance
75 cm
15 cm−60 cm less
Max magnification
0.12 ×
0.17 ×+42%
Autofocus motor
VCM (Voice Coil Motor)
STM
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
4 stops
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Weight
636 g
165 g−471 g less
Length
99.3 mm
44.6 mm−55 mm less
Diameter
76.5 mm
69.2 mm−7 mm less
Filter thread size
67 mm
58 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
11
7
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Lens mount
Canon RF
Canon RF
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.